MOSCOW: September 16, 2009The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad Awards Church Benefactors

On September 16, 2009, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion presented gramatas [decrees of blessing] to members of the Association of Archangel Michael Church in Cannes, France, VA Shevchuk and MV Slipenchuk, for their earnest administrative efforts and in gratitude for their generosity to that church. This was done during the historic visit of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God to the Russian land. After the official ceremony, His Eminence offered a luncheon to honor the benefactors.